The Queen draws back, releasing him. "You needn't lie," she says, looking deeply ashamed. "I understand it will probably never be nice to meet me again. Not after what I did."

Alice is heartened. Remorse is always a good sign. "I'm just glad you seem to have no intentions of repeating it."

"I'm shocked enough to find myself alive again," the Queen confesses. "I remember our last battle, your knife hurtling to hit its final mark. . . . I know this really does nothing to make up for anything, but I may as well say it. I'm sorry, Alice. I never. . .it was like a sickness, a -- a different kind of madness. . . ."

"I know," Alice nods. "My own insanity played a large part in yours. The King's possession of Victor helped to show that."

"How? What happened?"